China launches an emergency lifeboat to bring three astronauts back to Earth
17 hours ago
- #Space Exploration
- #China Space Program
- #Emergency Response
- Unpiloted Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou 22 launched and docked with Tiangong space station.
- Mission was accelerated due to damage to Shenzhou 20's window, likely from space debris.
- Astronauts used a microscope to assess the damage before deciding to return on Shenzhou 21.
- Shenzhou 21 safely returned three astronauts, leaving three others without a safe return craft.
- Emergency response led to rapid preparation and launch of Shenzhou 22 as a lifeboat.
- China Manned Space Agency praised the mission as an example of efficient emergency response.